It's Finally Time to Buy Yongye

At long last, Yongye is generating cash flow.

I've been a critic of Yongye International(Nasdaq: YONG) for the longest time. I've called the stock overpriced. Compared it (unfavorably) to more reasonably priced agriculture alternatives PotashCorp(NYSE: POT), Mosaic(NYSE: MOS), and China Green Agriculture(NYSE: CGA). I've repeatedly criticized its inability to generate positive free cash flow and my opinions have not been popular. So you're probably going to be surprised when I tell you that ... now is the time to buy Yongye. Finally.

When the facts change, I change my opinionWhy do I say this? Two reasons. First, as Yongye fell from grace, its stock price fell with it, becoming cheaper by the day. Second, my main worry about Yongye is no longer in effect. At long, long last, Yongye is generating cash flow.

Last month, Yongye announced its full-year results for fiscal 2010. Not only did it emerge into positive "operating cash flow" territory. It actually generated $4.9 million worth of free cash flow, and about a week ago, management announced it's on track to repeat the feat in 2011. In a preliminary report for the first quarter of 2011, Yongye confirmed its cash flow was positive, and sales on track for near-50% growth this year.

This suggests free cash flow could rise as high as $7.5 million by year's end, leaving us with an enterprise valued at just 27 times the cash it churns out in a year -- and growing at a 50% clip. The news prompted praise from market researcher The Bedford Report, which compared Yongye favorably to the performance at larger ag-market player Monsanto(NYSE: MON), growing at 15%.

Foolish takeawayWith free cash flow now in effect, my major concern regarding Yongye has been put to bed. Combined with a more attractive stock price, I now feel free to heed the advice of Fools who've been expounding on Yongye's attractiveness for years, and buy the shares for my own account. (And I have.)

That said, Chinese micro caps aren't for everyone. Indeed, conservative investors might prefer to wait awhile, and give Yongye time to prove it can both earn and keep earning cash profits before jumping in. If that's your preferred approach, feel free to add the stock to your Watchlist. Read along as we track Yongye's progress, and don't make the commitment until it feels right for you.

Author

I like things that go "boom." Sonic or otherwise, that means I tend to gravitate towards defense and aerospace stocks. But to tell the truth, over the course of a dozen years writing for The Motley Fool, I have covered -- and continue to cover -- everything from retailers to consumer goods stocks, and from tech to banks to insurers as well. Follow me on Twitter or Facebook for the most important developments in defense & aerospace news, and other great stories besides.
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